Notes and Comments.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3340, 8 September 1917, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

The Militarist, Not the Public

Sir James Allen is a Defender of the Delencer, not a Defender of the Faith-1 tui Public. Dr. Thacker was up in ! arms in the House against a Colonel on the staff colonels are becoming as common in New Zealand to-day as they were in South America after the Civil War—because of the expert casual and unfeeling treatment of two rerecruits sent into camp when they really needed medical treatment. Instinctively, Sir James made his protest—not against any section of the public receiving short shrift, but against any mere member of Parliament making dishonourable charges about a gentleman in uniform. He felt it his '' duty to protect men like the Colonel." Obviously, Dr. Thacker inimeditaelv came hack witth the retort: " And my duty is to protect the public." The Defence Minister is always forgetting that if there was no Great British Public to be fooled by gold braid and red facings, there would he no Defence Department—and neither would there bo Sir James Allen. K.C.M.G.

The Efficiency Board, A great amount of hot-air criticism has been let off regarding the resignation of the Efficiency Board. After all. it is not reasonable to expect that such a body of men can be endowed with executive powers or over which Cabinet has no control. Tho criticism should be aimed at the Board for resigning—if it be true, as suggested, that the resignation was due to the non-acceptance of the Board's recommendations. There is, however, a pretty general belief that the Board's hand was forced and that it has been sacrificed because it had the temerity to bring down such a sweeping condemnation of the liquor traffic. In the opinion of the .people of the Dominion generally, that one recommendation of the Board —to shut down hotel business at 6 o'clock or else submit the question to a Referendum— justified the creation of the Board and also provides the strongest argument in favour of its retention as a part of the Government's policy. For the Board had the ability to see and the courage to point out the one thing that is an inefficiency in the body politic—the drink traffic. The Next Efficient Step. Therefore, it is necessary that an Efficiency Board should continue in active operation. If Messrs. Ferguson, Frostick, and Gunson have, ao a Board, put their linger upon one ot the nation's inefficiencies they can point out some others. Pressure from sonic members of the Cabinet and from tho vested interest which hats such a pull on the Cabinet might suppress the Board for the moment, but there is a public opinion which, if aroused, is stronger than that silent influence against efficiency. That opinion will find its expression in Parliament when tiie Government brings down its Bill that will provoke the fight for the 0 o'clock closing of hotel bars. It is reported that the Efficiency Board is to be reconstituted, with a Cabinet Minister as one of its members. Premier Massey is named as that member. But even that will not answer the purpose. The only way in which an Efficiency Board's work can become practical and operative, will be for Mr. Massey to follow the splendid lead given by Premier Lloyd George. Pie should appoint Messrs. Ferguson. Frostick, and Gunson members of the Cabinet—and then let them go ahead as an Efficiency Board. As Cabinet Ministers., they will be able to realise just how far they can go with their reforms, which will then have Cabinet sanction behind them. As successful professional and business men, the Efficient Trio would undoubtedly , strengthen the Cabinet and give it a practical grip of things that the mere politician knows not of. Look_ how the way of politics has spoiled Sir James Allen and Mr. Arthur Myers, both of whom had the reputation of keen men of business before they became politicians.